Osteospermum plant named ‘Duetisushine’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Duetisushine’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; and daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets that are clear yellow in color.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUETISUSHINE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duetisushine’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new freely-branching Osteospermumcultivars with uniformly mounded plant habit and attractiveinflorescence coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a self-pollination conductedby the Inventor in August, 2005 of a proprietary selection ofOsteospermum ecklonis identified as code number Q04-7211-1, notpatented. The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inRheinberg, Germany in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2007, hasshown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duetisushine’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Duetisushine’ as a new and distinct cultivarof Osteospermum:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3 Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray        florets that are clear yellow in color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parentselection in ray floret coloration. In addition, plants of the newOsteospermum are more freely branching than plants of the female parentselection.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parentselection in ray floret coloration. In addition, plants of the newOsteospermum are more freely branching than plants of the male parentselection.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ecklonis ‘Countryside’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the newOsteospermum differed primarily from plants of ‘Countryside’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more vigorous than plants        of ‘Countryside’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum had smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Countryside’.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more freely flowering        than plants of ‘Countryside’.    -   4. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Countryside’ differed in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Countryside’ had lighter        yellow-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum. This photograph shows the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Osteospermum plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duetisushine’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany during the spring in aglass-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices whichapproximate those generally used in commercial Osteospermum production.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants had beengrowing for 16 weeks when the photograph and description were taken. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Duetisushine’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number Q04-7211-1,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis, identified as code number Q04-7211-1,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About three weeks at 20°            C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant            habit. Inflorescences positioned well above the foliar            plane. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 16.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 15 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching,            about six lateral branches per plant. Length: About 14.5 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            144B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 5.8 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Dentate. Texture, upper            surface: Pubescent; leathery. Texture, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B to 137C; venation, close to 144B. Petiole length:            About 6 mm. Petiole diameter: About 3 mm. Petiole texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color,            upper surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Petiole color, lower            surface: Close to 144B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance/habit.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with            elongated oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences            positioned above the foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc            and ray florets developing acropetally on a capitulum.            Inflorescences face mostly upright to somewhat outwardly.            Freely flowering habit; about 40 to 45 inflorescences            develop over time per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—In Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new            Osteospermum flower continuously during the spring and            summer. Early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            six weeks after planting. Inflorescences last about three            days on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 137B and 144C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.3 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.3 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 4 mm. Receptacle height: About 3 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 3.2 cm.            Width: About 1 cm. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence: About 23 arranged in about two whorls. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 12B            to 12C; towards the base, close to 155A; at the base, close            to 76C to 76D; color does not fade with development. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 12B;            towards the base, close to 174A to 174B.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.            Length: About 5 mm. Diameter, apex: About 2 mm. Diameter,            base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 50. Color: Immature: Close to 93C. Mature: Apex: Close            to 93A to 93C. Mid-section: Close to 154D. Base: Close to            154B.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 22. Length:            About 1.3 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Color, upper            surface: Close to 137B to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close            to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; leathery. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            color: Close to 79A to 79B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Crested.            Stigma color: Close to 79A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style            color: Close to 79A. Ovary color: Close to 144C.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color:            Close to 199A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermums.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about    35° C.

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Duetisushine’ asillustrated and described.